While Jones may be the leading candidate from within the Canadian Football League to replace Marc Trestman, now with the Chicago Bears, Popp told The Vancouver Sun he’s going to cast his net far and wide, both above and below the 49th parallel.

B.C. Lions head coach Mike Benevides thinks two members of his staff — offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine and defensive backs coach Mark Washington, both with ties to the city of Montreal and the province of Quebec — will or should receive consideration by Popp.

While Chapdelaine’s candidacy is being promoted by Montreal’s French language media for obvious reasons, Washington should be on the Alouettes’ radar and recognized as one of the league’s rising young coaches, Benevides suggested.

“Somebody like Jacques, and somebody like Mark, are going to be in demand, because they’re great coaches,” Benevides said. “It’s always flattering to another organization when your coaches are seen in that light. We’ll see where it goes.”

Trestman was an assistant with eight NFL teams from 1985-2004, mentored Steve Young, Jake Plummer, Bernie Kosar and Rich Gannon, and then won two Grey Cups in Montreal with Anthony Calvillo. Still, various U.S. publications describe his hiring by the Bears as “a leap of faith,” as if the 57-year-old is a virtual unknown.

But Benevides said a “leap of faith” is precisely what is required to become a head coach. The Calgary Stampeders took a leap of faith in Wally Buono, who retired as the CFL’s winningest coach, back in 1990. The same holds true for the new wave of coaching talent prevalent throughout the league — Scott Milanovich in Toronto, Kavis Reed in Edmonton, Corey Chamblin in Saskatchewan, Benevides in B.C. or Paul LaPolice, formerly in Winnipeg.

“A lot of decision-making isn’t just data-driven,” Benevides said. “It comes to instincts and fit. It’s always a risk for an organization, but it’s a risk they have to take to get new blood (in coaching). Somewhere along the line, somebody has to believe in you, to give you an opportunity.”

Washington, 39, broke into the CFL in 1997 with the Alouettes, spent six seasons there and won a Grey Cup (2002) before joining the Lions the following year. He won another Grey Cup as a player with B.C. (2006) and his third championship ring came as a coach of the Lions (2011).

“I’m going into my 11th year with the Lions,” Washington said. “The reality is, I’m going to be a coach (six years) here longer than I’ve been a player. One of my professional goals is to be a head coach. My situation is no different than anybody else. Everybody needs that break, that opportunity, to get ahead.”

It may not be this year, but Washington believes his career break is coming because of a sea change occurring in the CFL. More ex-players, not just career coaches, are patrolling the sidelines than ever before. Milanovich (39), Reed (39) and Chamblin (35) are all under 40 (Milanovich reaches that milestone on Jan. 25) and have playing backgrounds in the CFL. Benevides is 44 and LaPolice, another candidate being considered by the Alouettes, is 42. LaPo was 39 when the Blue Bombers named him their head coach.

“When I retired at the end of the ’07 season, Wally gave me the opportunity to start coaching,” Washington said. “That’s one thing he commented on — the need to get the next generation of coaches started. Wally was young when he started (Buono was 40 in his first year as the Stampeders HC). That’s what we’re starting to see again. The new generation is coming.”

• Ryan Rigmaiden, GM of the Arena League’s Spokane Shock, is in St. Petersburg, Fla., this week, taking in practices for Saturday’s East-West Shrine game, a college all-star game that includes two CIS players every year. Lions draft pick Kirby Fabien, an offensive lineman from the University of Calgary, is one of the invitees from Canada.

Rigmaiden, who doubles as a regional scout for the Lions, is paying particular attention to Fabien and how he stacks up against elite college competition from the U.S.

“We want an assessment of Kirby from American eyes,” explained Neil McEvoy, the Lions player personnel co-ordinator. “We look at him as a CIS player from a Canadian perspective. We want to get a different take.”

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CFL’s next generation ready to take coaching helm

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